Application Form - Queensland Council for LGBTI Health

Introduction

The Queensland Council for LGBTI Health recognises that our volunteers provide an invaluable contribution to QC’s activities, and as such, QC is committed to ensuring that a safe and inclusive environment is upheld for those who volunteer their time to contribute to our organisation’s work.

This document has been developed after research and consultation with staff and volunteers and is aligned with the best practice standards from Volunteering Australia as well as the principles of community engagement and participation.

Purpose

It is the aim of QC to promote fairness, equity, and common practice in all its dealings with volunteers to not only improve the effectiveness of the organisation but also enhance the experience of volunteering for QC.

The purpose of the QC volunteer policy and procedures is to ensure:

• ●  QC works from best practice policy and procedural principles in relation to its volunteer

  workforce.

• ●  Volunteers and staff working with volunteers are clear on the volunteer processes, roles, and

  responsibilities of volunteers as well as QC’s responsibilities in engaging volunteers.

• ●  The National Standards on Volunteering1 are embedded in QCs volunteer processes.

• ●  QC undertakes Volunteer program evaluation and improvement actions.

• ●  QC identifies and manages risk to the health and safety of LGBTIQ Sistergirl and Brotherboy volunteers and through the activities of volunteers, services users.

• 1 Volunteering Australia (2001) NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR INVOLVING VOLUNTEERS IN NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS 2nd Edition Melbourne: Australia

•  

• Policy

  QC is committed to creating an environment where people receive high quality services and can make and implement informed decisions about their health, and our volunteers are an integral component of achieving this.

The following principles are set out to support quality services and volunteer systems:

• ●  QC will have a clear definition of volunteer roles and duties.

• ●  QC will have a clear primary point of initial contact for new volunteers entering the

  organisation.

• ●  QC will conduct orientation and induction training and provide ongoing developmental

  opportunities.

• ●  QC will implement supervision and support with volunteers and ‘reflection and review’

  processes.

• ●  QC will have systems to acknowledge and celebrate volunteers.

• ●  QC will have specific Workplace Health and Safety processes in place.

• ●  QC will implement strategies to ensure that QC is an LGBTIQ Sistergirl and Brotherboy inclusive service that does not tolerate homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, discrimination towards people with intersex variations, erasure of identities or other forms of discrimination.

• ●  QC believes in the inherent human rights of all our volunteers, and in the human rights in law protected by Queensland’s Human Rights Act 2019 and are committed to upholding these rights, including in the context of refusal of volunteer participation which is conducted within reasonable limits. Specific steps are taken when participation as a volunteer is limited or refused, such as supporting referrals to more appropriate volunteering opportunities.

  Staff and volunteers should be familiar with the full range of QC policies, with particular focus on the following specific policies that are inherent to volunteering;

  Code of Values and Ethics

  Our Code of Values and Ethics sets out the framework by which we bring to life the values that underlie our work every day.

  Conflict of Interest Policy

  This policy provides guidance on what may constitute a conflict of interest and approaches for handling actual, potential, and perceived conflicts of interest, alongside good judgement and open and honest behaviour.

  Privacy, Confidentiality and Data Management Policy

  To provide an effective and high-quality service and to maintain appropriate accountability, Queensland Council for LGBTI Health must collect, store, and sometimes share relevant personal information about people. It is important that we are consistent and careful in the way we manage information, especially given much information we collect can include information about people’s medical history, gender identity, sexuality, innate variations of sex characteristics, and relationships status.

Feedback, Complaints and Grievance Policy

QC is committed to listening to people using our service and we recognise that receiving and responding to feedback both positive and negative is a necessary and important factor in assisting QC to deliver best practice services and continue to improve service delivery.

Child and Youth Risk Management and Safety Policy

The Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC) is committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We have zero tolerance for child abuse. Everyone working or volunteering with QC is responsible for the care and protection of children and reporting information about child abuse.

Service Access, Exit and Refusal of Service Policy

QC aims to maximise access to our services for everyone within the various communities we work with, while identifying and reducing barriers to access and providing equal access for people who need our services.

Working in the Community Policy

This policy outlines information and guidance to navigate what can be complex considerations for staff and volunteers regarding working in community spaces with our LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy communities.

Health and Safety and Incident Prevention and Management Policy

The Health and Safety of volunteers are paramount, and QC implements specific strategies to ensure a working environment that is safe and without risks to health.

Authorisation

Scott Cobine - Board Secretary
The Queensland Council for LGBTI Health

16 August 2022

Version Control